The Committee on Genetics, Genomics & Systems Biology (GGSB) is an interdisciplinary degree-granting program that brings together biologists from over a dozen academic departments. The program is aimed at training Ph.D. scholars for careers as independent scientists in basic and applied biomedical research and education. The Genetics, Genomics, & Systems Biology graduate program offers a program of basic study leading to Doctor of Philosophy in genetics. The Ph.D. training program combines a foundation in modern genetic analysis with training in current methods for formulating and addressing biological questions in the context of complex systems. Such systems are studied in physiological, developmental and evolutionary contexts. The presence of both basic and clinical sciences in the Biological Sciences Division (BSD) enhances the committee’s broad based interdisciplinary approach to teaching and research. The committee provides an exciting environment in which to pursue rigorous, high quality training with flexibility in designing programs to meet individual needs. The focus of GGSB is to train students to utilize sophisticated genetic analysis, genomics, modeling and systems level analysis of regulations networks in their own research program. Opportunities are available to study diverse areas of biology and genetics, including bioinformatics, developmental processes, gene structure and regulation, genetic recombination and mutation, chromosome mechanics, evolution, human disease, immunology, and other areas of modern genetics. Students receive broad training in these sub-disciplines, while specializing in one of them for their research career. The committee’s goal is to provide an intellectually stimulating, collegial and supportive environment for students to progress smoothly from research training to research independence.

To obtain a Ph.D. in the Division of Biological Sciences, nine graded courses are required as detailed below.

GGSB has two tracks, one “Empirical Track”, and the other “Computational Biology”. While the two tracks are united by the common goals of using genetic, genomic and systems biology approach to address important biological questions, the training focus is different. Training of the first track is more focused on experimental techniques, especially those quantitative in nature, while the second track builds computational skills of students. The curriculum of the two tracks, as a result, will be different, as outlined below.

CHOICE #1: GGSB EMPIRICAL TRACK (4 REQUIRED COURSES AND 4 ELECTIVES)

Suggested “tracks” for students interested in concentrating in the Empirical track have been developed by the CSAC. (Model Systems, Population Genetics, Human Genetics, Developmental Genetics, and Genomics & Systems Biology) have been developed by the CSAC. A summary of the five suggested tracks is given in Appendix A. Students are required to consult with their assigned mentor prior to registration each quarter.

A total of four graded electives must be taken, one of which may be a reading course. The electives can be selected according to the student’s interests and the availability of courses.

Four Required Courses:

Genetic Analysis of Model Organisms AND Genomics and Systems Biology

Plus One of the Following Two Courses:

Molecular Biology I ORMolecular Biology II

Plus One of the Following Four Courses:

Fundamentals of Molecular Evolution OR Principles of Population Genetics I OR Evolutionary Genomics OR Human Variation & Disease

Empirical Track Course Electives [4 courses]:

Must take 4 courses (see list of approved electives).

Students may petition the CSAC for approval of courses not listed in this handbook as “approved”.

At least 3 of the 4 electives are to be taken before the Preliminary Exam.

All 4 electives should be taken before the Qualifying Exam.

One of the 4 elective courses may be taken pass/fail subject to CSAC approval.

One of the electives may be a graded reading course (see guidelines for reading courses).

Suggested “tracks” for students interested in concentrating in the Computational Biology Track have been developed by the CSAC. (Population Genetics & Evolution, Statistical Genetics, Computational Genomics, and Computational Cell Biology) A summary of the four suggested tracks is given in Appendix B. Students are required to consult with their assigned mentor prior to registration each quarter.

Students may petition the CSAC for approval of courses not listed in this handbook as “approved”.

At least 4 of the 5 electives are to be taken before the Preliminary Exam.

All 5 electives should be taken before the Qualifying Exam.

One of the 5 elective courses may be taken pass/fail subject to CSAC approval.

Rotations

Students undertake short research projects in at least two different laboratories before beginning their dissertation research. The purpose of the rotation is to expose the student to different research environments, broaden his/her acquaintance with useful laboratory techniques, and introduce him/her to the conceptual framework of experimental design. The distribution of course offerings makes it difficult for students to undertake rotations in Autumn Quarter of the first academic year. Therefore, rotations are performed in the winter or spring and summer quarters. The winter and spring rotations last 10 weeks to coincide with the academic quarter. The summer rotation lasts 5 weeks, when the student is able to devote full-time to research. Students wishing to do a third rotation may do so during the second half of Summer Quarter.